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Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Vogue 8408 Dress

I really meant to get this posted up before I went back to the UK for 2 family parties, but time ran away from me. I am now back and had a great time, but still suffering a bit from jetlag, it seems to get harder as I get older (like many things!).

I decided to make a new dress that would work for both parties, one was a casual afternoon affair and one a more formal all day marquee extravaganza. This seemed like a good time to opt for the reliable LBD option, using the now out of print Vogue 8408.

I've had this pattern in my stash for ages and although the long sleeved version would have been more practical for the UK I also wanted to use a piece of black wool blend from my stash and only just managed to get the sleeveless version out of it. In the end it worked out well, we had glorious weather while I was there, a bit fresh, but with beautiful clear skies.

This pattern is one of the Very Easy Vogue patterns and although it is easy to sew I think the collar could be drafted better, perhaps with more of a curve and an undercollar / facing sort of thing. Of course then it wouldn't be "very easy" which is often the problem with these patterns. As it is the neckline is quite bulky and sits a bit weirdly - I was not feeling the love for this dress until I hunted around a few reviews and found Trena's where she added a brooch at the collar intersection, albeit for different reasons. Eureka! I hopped off to H&M and bought two black fabric flower pins that could be worn either as a hairclip or a brooch and the dress was transformed!

For the more casual party I left off the extra hair decoration but wore it for the second party, my hair looked somewhat neater at the beginning of the party but of course I don't have any photos from then!

In addition I collected my giveaway book from Pin Queen and was really surprised to find she had also included 2 patterns (which miraculously I don't already own) and a cute packet of needles. So lovely - thank you!

That pin idea was so smart! I remember when I first made this dress last year, I had the same neck-bulk issue. After wearing around for a bit and a wash, it calmed down. Did you do any fabric shopping in London?

So classy and not overdone! I've got this pattern in my stash too and the reason I haven't sewn it is because of the collar wonkiness others have reported. Hmmm. I'll have to consider the brooch option. It really works for you!

Great dress and very versatile the way you did it. I think for these types of collars, you need some kind of brooch on them. I made a similar style for my dd last year, and that's what we wound up doing, too. Otherwise, the collar just slips around and doesn't sit right. But, they do look really nice when you can get them to behave! Yours looks fabulous!

I have this pattern, but it has been languishing in my shoebox of unused Vogues because everybody reports problems with the collar. But as usual your version has been digging it out for a rethink, coz everything you sew/style is such an inspiration!Send me your/a mailing address and I'll get you the Handover Series so you can laugh when you recognize the scene settings. Starting with lunch on Hollywood Road...a murder on May Road...an office on Queen's Road East.Bestest,